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Maresin 1 Resolves Inflammation and Aids Bone Healing in Periapical Lesions

  • E. Demir
  • , I. İlgenli
  • , Z. Guney
  • , S. Mohammadi
  • , K. Lauwens
  • , N. Yakar
  • , C. Alvarez Rivas
  • , O. Unlu
  • , A. Kantarci
  • Ege University
  • Medipol University School of Dentistry Department of Periodontology
  • The Forsyth Institute
  • KU Leuven
  • Istanbul Atlas University
  • Harvard University
  • University of Minnesota Twin Cities

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Chronic apical periodontitis (CAP) is a persistent inflammatory condition caused by microbial infections in the root canal system, leading to bone loss and tissue damage. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that maresin 1 (MaR1), a specialized proresolving mediator, facilitates inflammatory resolution and promotes bone healing in CAP. We developed a CAP model in mice through pulp exposure. Animals received intracanal administration of either MaR1 or a vehicle. Micro–computed tomography (micro-CT) was used to analyze lesion size and bone volume changes. Inflammatory cell infiltration was assessed in hematoxylin and eosin–stained sections, and microbial diversity was analyzed using next-generation sequencing. The role of regulatory T cells (Tregs) was further explored through diphtheria toxin–induced depletion of Tregs in Foxp3eGFP/IL17 transgenic mice. All statistical analyses were performed using parametric methods, as confirmed by the Shapiro–Wilk test for data normality. Analysis of variance with Tukey’s post hoc and Bonferroni-corrected t tests was applied. P < 0.05 was considered significant. In 2-dimensional analyses, a significant difference was observed between the control and lesion groups, supporting the validity of the experimental model. MaR1 treatment significantly reduced lesion size (P < 0.0001). The bone volume/total volume ratio was significantly higher in the MaR1 group than in the vehicle group (P < 0.05). Bone mass was reduced in the lesion group, whereas MaR1 treatment significantly alleviated this loss (P < 0.05). The number of inflammatory cells was significantly lower in the MaR1 group compared to the vehicle group (P < 0.05). MaR1 also reduced Enterococcus faecalis, a key pathogen in persistent infections. This study highlights MaR1 as a promising treatment for chronic apical periodontitis, showing benefits in resolving inflammation, preserving bone, and reducing E. faecalis. Unlike conventional therapies, MaR1 supports immune modulation and tissue repair.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1163-1173
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of Dental Research
Volume105
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2026

Keywords

  • bone regeneration
  • immune modulation
  • microbial diversity
  • periapical periodontitis
  • resolution of inflammation
  • specialized proresolving mediators

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